Card dispensing cassette

Abstract

A card dispensing cassette includes a housing in which cards are stacked. A dispense outlet is provided in the housing through which cards are laterally dispensed from the cassette. A card retainer, cooperating with the dispense outlet, is slidably mounted to the cassette for substantially lateral movement between a closed position in which cards cannot be dispensed and an open position in which cards can be dispensed. The card retainer has a retaining lip which engages any cards protruding through the dispense outlet when the card retainer moves to its closed position so as to return those cards into the cassette.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A card dispensing cassette comprising: a housing in which cards are stacked in use;   a dispense outlet in the housing through which cards are laterally dispensed from the cassette;   a card retainer, cooperating with the dispense outlet, mounted to the cassette for substantial lateral movement between a closed position in which cards cannot be dispensed and an open position in which cards can be dispensed, the card retainer having a retaining lip which engages any cards protruding through the dispense outlet when the card retainer moves to its closed position so as to return those cards into the cassette, and,   a handle coupled to the card retainer and extending through an aperture in a wall of the housing to enable the card retainer to be moved.   
     
     
       2. A cassette according to claim 1, wherein: the card retainer includes a window through which cards in the stack can be engaged by a feed member.   
     
     
       3. A cassette according to claim 1, wherein: the housing has a cover which is locked to the remainder of the housing.   
     
     
       4. A cassette according to claim 1, further comprising: a lock member which can be moved to a locking position in which it engages a dispenser to lock the cassette to the dispenser.   
     
     
       5. A cassette according to claim 1, further comprising: guide means for causing the card retainer to tip during its movement towards the open position so as to reduce interference between the lip and the path of cards being dispensed.   
     
     
       6. A cassette according to claim 5, wherein: the guide means comprises a cooperating pin and slot.   
     
     
       7. A cassette according to claim 6, wherein: the pin extends laterally from the card retainer and the slot is provided in the wall of the housing.   
     
     
       8. A card dispensing cassette according to claim 1, further comprising: a gear assembly secured to the card retainer for coupling the card retainer to a gear of a drive shaft which is connected in use to an actuator of a dispenser for feeding cards from the cassette through the dispense output, to which dispenser the cassette can be mounted.   
     
     
       9. A cassette according to claim 8, wherein; the gear assembly comprises a rack and pinion.   
     
     
       10. A card dispensing cassette according to claim 1, further comprising: a first latch member movable between a locked position in which the first latch member engages and locks the card retainer in its closed position and a released position in which the card retainer can be moved to its open position.   
     
     
       11. A cassette according to claim 10, wherein: the first latch member is primed in its released position to return to the locked position once the card retainer has been moved to its open position whereby the card retainer is automatically locked by the first latch member when the card retainer returns to its closed position.   
     
     
       12. A cassette according to claim 10, wherein: the first latch member can only be unlocked from within the housing.   
     
     
       13. A cassette according to claim 10, further comprising: a second latch member which locks the card retainer in its closed position and is releasable by a user to allow the card retainer to be moved to its open position.   
     
     
       14. Card dispensing apparatus comprising: a card dispensing cassette including a housing in which cards are stacked in use, a dispense outlet in the housing through which cards are laterally dispensed from the cassette, and a card retainer, cooperating with the dispense outlet, mounted to the cassette for substantial lateral movement between a closed position in which cards cannot be dispensed and an open position in which cards can be dispensed, the card retainer having a retaining lip which engages any cards protruding through the dispense outlet when the card retainer moves to its closed position so as to return those cards into the cassette;   a dispenser to which the cassette can be mounted, the dispenser being adapted to feed cards from the cassette through the dispense outlet to an output position;   the cassette including a gear assembly secured to the card retainer and,   the dispenser includes a card retainer actuator connected to a drive shaft carrying a gear which engages the gear assembly on the cassette coupling the card retainer to the drive shaft when the cassette is located in position on the dispenser.   
     
     
       15. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein: operation of the actuator both locks the cassette to the dispenser and moves the card retainer to its open position.   
     
     
       16. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein: the cassette includes a latch member which locks the card retainer in its closed position and is releasable by a user to allow the card retainer to be moved to its open position;   the dispenser further includes a release member which releases the latch member when the cassette is mounted on the dispenser.   
     
     
       17. Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein: the release member comprises a pin.   
     
     
       18. Card dispensing apparatus comprising: a card dispensing cassette including a housing in which cards are stacked in use, a dispense outlet in the housing through which cards are laterally dispensed from the cassette, and a card retainer, cooperating with the dispense outlet, mounted to the cassette for substantial lateral movement between a closed position in which cards cannot be dispensed and an open position in which cards can be dispensed, the card retainer having a retaining lip which engages any cards protruding through the dispense outlet when the card retainer moves to its closed position so as to return those cards into the cassette;   a dispenser to which the cassette can be mounted, the dispenser being adapted to feed cards from the cassette through the dispense outlet to an output position;   the cassette including a latch member which locks the card retainer in its closed position and is releasable by a user to allow the card retainer to be moved to its open position;   the dispenser including a release member which releases the latch member when the cassette is mounted on the dispenser.   
     
     
       19. A cassette for dispensing cards comprising: a housing including side walls upstanding from a base wall for supporting cards to be dispensed in a stack;   a card dispensing outlet formed between a side wall and the base wall;   a card retainer mounted on the housing for movement between inner and outer positions closing and opening the outlet, respectively,   a first latching member provided on the card retainer for latching the card retainer in an inner position closing the outlet;   a first spring biasing the first latching member into the housing;   means for moving the first latching member out of the housing against the biasing of the first spring;   a second latching member provided on a housing wall;   a third latching member mounted on a housing wall for swiveling movement between positions of latching engagement with the first latching member for latching the card retaining member in a position closing the outlet and with the second latching member permitting outward movement of the card retainer to a position opening the outlet;   and means, operable by movement of the card retainer, for freeing the third latching member from engagement with the second latching member to permit engagement of the third latching member with the first latching member.